Adjustable back for cushion-seats.



No. 855,656. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

T. J. MONAMARA, JR. 8: G. KRUMMEN. ADJUSTABLE BACK FOR. CUSHION SEATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1907.

Wit messes @2 a 4 53, (2 1 d TINTTE STATES PATEN FETCH.

THOMAS J. MONAMARA, J11, AND GEORGE KRUMMEN, or CINCINNATI, OHIO,ASSIGNORS TO THE PHOENIX CARRIAGE co, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE BACK FOR CUSHION-SEATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed March 11, 1907. Serial No. 361,648.

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. MONA- MARA, Jr., and GEORGE KRUMMEN, bothcitizens of the United States of America, and residents of Cincinnati,county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Backs for Cushion-Seats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to adjustable seatbacks adapted for use inconnection with carriage and other similar seats. One of its objects isto provide simple and reliable means by which the Outline of the cushionor upholstered back may be changed at will to alford changes of positionin order to rest an occupants back.

Another object is to provide simple and eflicient means for imparting ayielding movement to the parts which serve to distend the back.

It further consists in certain details of form, combination andarrangement, all of which will be more fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy-seat partly in section,embodying my improvements, and showing the back in its retractedposition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the partswhen the back is in its distended position. Fig. 3 is an end view of theback-frame with the cushion removed, showing our improved mechanism toretract the cushions attached thereto. Fig. 4 is a cross or horizontalsection through the back, showing a modified form of the mechanismillustrated in Fig. 1, in position to extend the back. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the yoke frame and end pieces shown in Fig. I; Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 4 showing a modifi cation in which theback-extending mechanism is yieldingly held in position.

In the accompanying drawings, A, represents the carriage seat frame, andB, the baclei'rame to which the upholstered back, 0, is attached. Theupholstery preferably comprises a leather or other exterior surfacematerial, 0, a cushion of curled hair or similar material, 0, and abacking diaphragm, 0 preferably of strong burlap, between which and theframe, B, is located the mechanism for changing the contour of thecushions.

This mechanism comprises a yoke-shaped bar, D, the ends, (Z of which areournaled in brackets, E, attached at opposite sides to the frame, B. Asshown in Fig. 3, the yokeframe, D, is flattened at d, and to its face isattached a rounded facing strip, d, preferably of wood. One end of theyoke-frame is extended out of the cushion, being provided with arectangular seat, (P, to receive an operating lever, d

In the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the central portion, (1, of theyoke-frame lies close against the back-frame, B, occupying but littlespace and the cushion, C, is near] flat and also lies close against thebackframe, B.

When it is desired to have a curved or fullcushioned back, the lever, d,is turned through an angle of ninety degrees from the position shown inFig. 1, which causes the yoke-frame to turn in its bearings, E, therebyswinging the central portion, (Z,'of the yoke-frame outward at rightangles to the frame, B. This in turn forces the cushion, O, away fromthe frame, B, and burlap, 0 which is secured at top and bottom to frame,B, is held tight at the center across the facing strip, d, of yoke, D,thereby holding the cushion, C, in the desired position.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the yoke-frame, F, isconstructed of two metal end pieces, f, f, which seat in the brackets,E, of frame, B. These end pieces f,f, are attached at f f, to oppositeends of a wooden cross bar, F, which is wide enough to act in the samemanner as the frame, D, the end pieces, f, f, being attached at one edgeof the bar, F, so that its other or projecting edge will serve when inthe position shown in Fig. 4, to extend the cushion, while when turnedto the other position, the bar, F, will lie close against the backframe,B.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the end pieces, h, h, journal inbrackets, E, of frame, B, and are provided at their inner ends withsockets in which are seated the ends, 7L2, h of the yoke-frame, H. 72/,represent nuts or collars to retain the ends, 72 7L in their respectivesockets, and h, if, represent springs coiled around the ends ofyoke-frame, H, so that when the cushion, C, is extended by saidyoke-frame, the yokeframe, 11, Will yield to pressure against thecushion by reason of the springs, h, 717, and the sliding of the ends,7L2, it in their respective sockets in end pieces, h, h.

The mechanism herein illustrated and described is capable ofconsiderable modification Without departing from the principle of ourinvention.

Having described our invention, What We claim is:

1. In an article of the character indicated a back-frame, a cushionattached to the edges of said frame, and a yoke-frame interposed betweensaid back-frame and cushion, said yoke-frame being pivotally attached tothe back-frame and adapted to be shifted so as to lie close against theback-frame, or to be extended therefrom to alter the shape of thecushion.

2. In an article of the character indicated in combination With aback-frame and cushion, a yoke-frame interposed. between said cushionand back-frame, said yoke frame being pivotally attached to saidbackframe and adapted to be shifted to varying positions relativethereto to alter the shape of the cushions and an exteriorly locatedshifting lever.

3. In an article of the character indicated in combination With aback-frame a flexible cushion attached thereto at its edges, a yokeframeinterposed between said back-frame and cushion, said yoke-frame beingpivotally attached to the back-frame and provided With a shifting lever.

4. In an article of the character indicated in combination With aback-frame and a cushion attached together at their edges, a yoke-frameinterposed between said cushion and baclcfrarne and pivotaily attachedto said back-frame, the central portion of said yoke-frame beingyieldingly supported relative to its pivots.

THOS. J. MONAMARA, JR. GEORGE KRUMMEN. WVitnesses MICHAEL J. MONAMARA,WALTER F. MURRAY.

